Abstract
Silicon Nitride ($Si_3N_4$), which is widely used in a variety of applications, is hard-to-machine due to its high hardness. At high temperature (e.g. above $1000^{\circ}C$), however, the machinability can be greatly improved. In this work, we used a $CO_2$ laser with a high absorptivity to $Si_3N_4$ of 0.9 to preheat the surface of a rothting $Si_3N_4$ rod. Preheating and turning of $Si_3N_4$ was executed at the same time. The result of machining was MRR of $8.0mm^3/s$ that is four times faster than normal grinding. Continuous chip formation was observed by a microscope.
